Behind the Shadows: A Love Unspoken

Chapter 6: Fragile Peace

Back at the safe house, the silence between them was almost as deafening as the gunfire they had just left behind. The team had debriefed, missions discussed, and strategies rethought, but Gekko and Iso hadn't spoken since their exchange on the battlefield. The others didn't notice the tension simmering beneath the surface; to them, the mission had been a success. But for Gekko and Iso, something much larger loomed—something they both knew needed to be addressed.

Gekko leaned against the wall of the small room he shared with Iso, watching as Iso methodically cleaned his weapons. The rhythmic motions of Iso's hands, the sharp focus in his eyes—it was the same routine every time after combat. Except now, Gekko could see the tremor in Iso's hands, the slight hesitation with each movement.

The tension from earlier still weighed on them both. Gekko knew Iso was barely holding it together, and the thought made his chest tighten. Iso had been on edge during the entire mission, but now that they were out of danger, there was no reason to stay silent anymore.

"You're not okay," Gekko said, breaking the silence.

Iso's hands froze, hovering over the blade he was cleaning. He didn't look up, didn't say anything, but the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately.

Gekko pushed off the wall, walking over to the table where Iso sat. He carefully reached out, taking one of Iso's blades from his hand and setting it aside. "You don't have to act like everything's fine. Not with me."

Iso's jaw clenched, his eyes focused on the empty space in front of him, refusing to meet Gekko's gaze. "I told you before. I'm fine."

"No, you're not," Gekko said softly, pulling out a chair and sitting across from him. "You're spiraling, Iso. You've been spiraling for a while, and you're going to burn out if you don't stop."

Iso's breath came in shallow, controlled inhales, as if he was trying to force himself to stay calm. He hated this—being seen like this, vulnerable, out of control. His entire life had been about maintaining control, about staying one step ahead, keeping his emotions locked away. But Gekko wasn't letting him hide anymore.

"I don't know how," Iso finally whispered, his voice hoarse. His hands clenched into fists on the table. "I've been doing this for so long, I don't know how to stop."

Gekko's heart ached at Iso's admission. He reached out, placing his hand over Iso's, not forcing anything, just offering a quiet comfort. "You don't have to stop protecting me. I get it, you care about me. But you can't let it consume you like this."

Iso's hand trembled beneath Gekko's touch, but he didn't pull away. "It's not just that I care about you," he said, his voice tight. "It's more than that, Gekko. I don't... I can't explain it."

Gekko's pulse quickened at the vulnerability in Iso's words. He squeezed Iso's hand gently, his voice soft but firm. "Then try. I want to understand. I told you before, I'm not going anywhere."

Iso let out a shaky breath, finally looking up to meet Gekko's eyes. There was a rawness in his gaze, a pain that had been buried for too long. "I've spent so much time watching you, making sure you're safe, because... because I can't imagine what it would be like without you."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Gekko's breath caught, the weight of Iso's confession sinking in. It was more than protection. More than just watching from a distance. It was obsession, yes, but there was love in it too—an all-consuming need to keep Gekko close, to never let him slip away.

"I know it's not healthy," Iso continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I can't stop. I've tried, but every time you're in danger, I—" His voice cracked, and Iso pulled his hand away, burying his face in his hands. "I lose myself. I can't think about anything else."

Gekko's chest tightened as he watched Iso unravel in front of him. He had never seen Iso like this—so raw, so unguarded. His heart ached for him, for the pain he had been carrying alone for so long.

"Iso," Gekko said gently, moving closer, his voice filled with warmth and understanding. "You don't have to do this alone anymore. You don't have to protect me by yourself."

Iso looked up, his eyes filled with doubt. "What if I can't stop? What if I lose control again? What if I hurt you?"

"You won't," Gekko replied firmly, his voice unwavering. "Because we're in this together now. You're not alone anymore. And I'm not afraid of you, Iso. Not of your feelings, not of whatever this is."

Iso's breath hitched, and for a moment, he looked like he was going to argue, but then he stopped. He looked at Gekko—really looked at him—and something in his gaze softened. The tension in his shoulders eased, the frantic energy that had been driving him for so long finally beginning to fade.

"You mean that?" Iso asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he was afraid to believe it.

Gekko nodded, his eyes filled with quiet determination. "I do. We'll figure this out together. You don't have to protect me from yourself."

Iso stared at him for a long moment, and then, slowly, he reached out, taking Gekko's hand in his. His grip was firm, but there was a tenderness to it that made Gekko's heart race.

"I don't deserve this," Iso said quietly, his voice filled with guilt. "I don't deserve you."

Gekko shook his head, squeezing Iso's hand. "You deserve to be happy, Iso. And I want to be part of that."

The room was silent, save for the sound of their breathing, the weight of their unspoken feelings heavy in the air. But for the first time, the silence didn't feel suffocating. It felt like the beginning of something—something fragile, but real.

And as Iso held Gekko's hand, he let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, he could find peace. Not in watching from the shadows, but in standing beside Gekko, in letting him in.

For the first time in a long time, Iso wasn't afraid.